Introduction to Infection Control
C t t
Contents
This course examines infection control topics including
hand hygiene, hospital environmental control, workplace
practices, precautions, personal protective equipment,
respiratory protection, immunizations, and postexposure issues. It is intended to give only a brief
overview of infection control.
2
D fi iti
Definitions
Transmissible
T
i ibl infections
i f ti
are a major
j concern
among health care workers.
 Transmissible infections - Infections caused by microorganisms that
are highly contagious and easily spread to and from health care Team
Members.
Members
 Health care workers - All paid or unpaid persons working in health
care settings who have the potential for exposure to infectious materials
including body substances, contaminated medical supplies and
equipment,
i
t contaminated
t i t d environmental
i
t l surfaces,
f
or contaminated
t i t d air.
i
These personnel include both people directly or indirectly involved in
patient care.
3
Introduction
•
•

Remember that you are ultimately
responsible for understanding the
risk of exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials
(OPIM) at Memorial Health.
Th Infection
The
I f ti C
Control
t l program works
k
only if you are committed to
following the guidelines described in
this
hi course.
Other potentially infectious materials - Blood and other materials
that can carry pathogens that cause serious diseases. Materials
include human body fluids, unfixed tissue or organs, and
HIV/HBV/HCV-containing cell or tissue cultures.
4
Introduction
Memorial Health
•
•

Takes action to control outbreaks of health
care acquired infections
Reports information about infections
internally and to the appropriate public health
agencies.
agencies
Health care acquired infections - an infection acquired by an
individual while receiving care or services in the health care
organization.
5
H dH
Hand
Hygiene
i
•
Frequentt h
F
hand
d washing
hi
is
i the
th foundation
f
d ti
of infection control.
•
This single action lowers the risk of transmitting
microorganisms from one person or site to another.
•
•
•
Wearing gloves does not replace hand washing.
•
Use alcohol based foam in between hand washings and when
hands are not visibly soiled.
Wash your hands if there is any doubt about the need to do so.
so
Alcohol based foam products are available in all patient care
areas and should be used to sanitize hands but does not take
the place of effective hand washing
washing.
6
Hand washing
G id li
Guidelines
•
•
•
•
•
Use an approved solution and wash for at least 15
seconds
d iin non-critical
iti l care areas or att least
l
t 30
seconds in critical care areas.
When hands are visiblyy soiled, more time mayy be
required.
Don't forget to scrub your fingernails and in between
g
fingers
Artificial nail enhancements including acrylic overlay,
gels, silk wraps and others are prohibited in direct
care givers
g
Assemble and inspect all equipment after washing
your hands and before touching the patient.
7
Environmental Control
E i
Environmental
t l Control
C t l
Guidelines
• Environmental control issues
address:
– potentially
t ti ll iinfectious
f ti
waste
t
– general housekeeping
8
Environmental Control
Potentially Infectious Material
•
•


Bag potentially infectious material to prevent
contamination to patients, Team Members,
and visitors.
Place used sharps in puncture-resistant
containers.
potentially infectious material - Potentially infectious waste may include used
patient care equipment, sharps, and laundry or any other item that may be
contaminated with blood and other materials that can carry pathogens that
cause serious diseases. Materials include human body fluids, unfixed tissue or
organs, and
d HIV/HBV/HCV-containing
HIV/HBV/HCV
t i i cellll or titissue cultures.
lt
sharps - Any object that can cut, puncture, or penetrate the skin. Examples are
needles, scalpels, broken glass, knives, and blades.
9
Environmental Control
Biohazard Symbol
•
The biohazard symbol is a universal symbol placed
on any container or area that may contain regulated
waste.
•
Biohazard signs are always red or orange and have
the biohazard symbol
symbol.
10
Environmental Control
General Housekeeping
•
Cleaning schedules vary according to the:
– area of the hospital
– type of surface to be cleaned
– type of soil present
•
Microorganisms on walls
walls, floors
floors, and other surfaces
are rarely transmitted to patients or Team Members.

Microorganisms - A potentially infectious agent that is so small it can
only be seen with a microscope.
11
Environmental Control
Workplace
p
Practices
In work areas where exposure is
likely, do not:
– Eat,
E t drink,
d i k or putt objects
bj t iin your mouth
th
– Apply cosmetics, lip balm, or contact
lenses
12
Environmental Control
Minimize Risk
•
•

Minimize your risk of exposure by containing,
removing, and disinfecting all blood or body fluid spills
as quickly and effectively as possible.
Wear gloves and other appropriate personal protective
equipment (PPE).
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment.
Specialized clothing and equipment meant
to provide protection against contact with
bloodborne pathogens or other potentially
infectious materials.
13
Precautions
Standard and TransmissionTransmission
Based Precautions
•
There are two levels of precautions in hospitals: Standard
Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions.
•
Standard Precautions combines Universal Precautions and
Body Substance Isolation.
•
Standard Precautions apply to blood, all body fluids, secretions,
and excretions except sweat, non-intact skin, and mucous
membranes.
•
Standard Precautions includes additional measures to protect
both patients and Team Members from disease causing germs.

Standard Precautions- An approach used in infection control. It treats all blood
and other potentially infectious materials as if they were known to be infected
with bloodborne diseases.
14
Precautions
Transmission Based Precautions
Transmission-Based
•
Transmission-Based Precautions apply to patients with
d
documented
d or suspected
d iinfections
f i
or colonizations
l i i
that
h are
highly transmissible.
•
Transmission-Based Precautions include
– Airborne Precautions
– Droplet Precautions
– Contact Precautions
•
They are used in addition to Standard Precautions.

Airborne Precautions - are required with diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, or chicken pox. Wear
an approved respirator in the room and place a standard isolation mask on the patient during transport.
Droplet Precautions - are required for diseases such as rubella, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, etc. Wear
a standard isolation mask in the room, and place a standard isolation mask on the patient during transport.
Contact Precautions - are used for multi-drug resistant pathogens such as MRSA, VRE, RSV, chicken
pox, shingles, lice, C-diff, etc. Wear gloves to enter the room. Remove gloves and wash hands before
leaving the room. Always use dedicated patient equipment (for example, a disposable stethoscope, digital
th
thermometer,
t etc.).
t )


15
Additional Preventive Measures
G id li
Guidelines
•
Additional preventive measures include the
use of:
– PPE
– respiratory protection
– immunizations

PPE - Personal Protecti
Protective
e Equipment.
Eq ipment Specialized
Speciali ed clothing and
equipment meant to provide protection against contact with
bloodborne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials.
16
Additional Preventive Measures
P
Personal
lP
Protective
t ti E
Equipment
i
t
•
Always
y use the required
q
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE).
– This specialized clothing and equipment provides protection
against
g
contact with blood or other p
potentiallyy infectious
materials.
•
Major areas to protect with PPE are the:
– hands
– face
– body
•
Always check PPE to be sure it is not damaged or
worn.
17
Additional Preventive Measures
PPE Gloves
PPE:
Gl
•
Gloves are to be worn when conducting
patient care or procedures which may
expose the
th care giver
i
to
t blood
bl d or b
body
d fl
fluids
id
•
Gloves must be removed and hands washed
once the
th procedure
d
iis completed
l t d
•
DO NOT wear gloves between procedures,
while dialing phone or documenting in the
medical record.
18
Additional Preventive Measures
Respiratory Protection
•
By CDC / OSHA Guidelines, all Team
Members entering an isolation room for
tuberculosis or chicken pox must wear a
fitted respirator (N95).
•
Fit-test the respirator to the one person
for whom it is intended.
•
Regular surgical masks do not
adequately protect Team Members from
tuberculosis.
N95 Mask
Regular Mask
19
Post-Exposure Issues
OSHA
•
OSHA requires employers to develop an Exposure
Control Plan.
– This plan provides protection for all Team Members who
might be exposed to bloodborne diseases.
– MHUMC's Exposure Control Plan and Employee Health
P li i explain
Policies
l i h
how tto reportt an exposure and
d what
h t
medical follow up is available.
– OSHA requires that a Team Member be notified of the postexposure evaluation and the follow-up
f
actions taken.
20
Post-Exposure Issues
Immediate Response to Blood borne
Exposure
•
When you have contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials
materials, immediately cleanse
the area.
– Flush mucous membranes with a large amount of water.
– Wash exposed skin with soap and water.
– Report the exposure incident to your Team Leader
immediately.
– Go through the evaluation and follow up.
21
Post-Exposure Issues
IImmediate
di
Response
R
to TB
Exposure
•
If you are exposed to TB or other
diseases, contact your Team
Leader immediately.
•
Follow recommendations in TB
Control plan and have any
required treatments and follow
followup procedures.
22
Post-Exposure Issues
Be familiar with key elements of
the infection control program
•
•
•
Wash your hands frequently.
•
•
Wear PPE and use respiratory protection as indicated.
•
Contact yyour Team Leader immediatelyy if you
y are exposed
p
to
blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Understand MHUMC environmental control issues.
Use good workplace practices and follow Standard
Precautions.
Receive the hepatitis B vaccination series and other
vaccinations when they are offered.
For more information, contact the Center for Infectious Disease at
350-8109.
350
8109.
23
R f
References
•
Guideline for Hand washing and Hospital
Environmental Control, 1985, U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services, Public Health Service
•
Guidelines for Infection Control in Health Care
Personnel, 1998, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
We hope this course has been both informative and helpful.
Feell ffree tto review
F
i
this
thi course until
til you are confident
fid t about
b t your
knowledge of the material presented.
24